Pilates For Dummies

Description

Once the secret fitness weapon of professional dancers, athletes,
and movie stars, Pilates is sweeping the country with a vengeance.
And if even half of what its many fans claim is true, then
it’s easy to see why. Combining elements of yoga, dance,
gymnastics, and boxing, along with many original movements, Pilates
exercises build muscle tone, improve flexibility and balance,
lengthen the spine, increase body awareness, and repair past
injuries. Most people who’ve done it, even for a short time,
say they feel stronger and more energized, centered and physically
confident than ever before. They also like having the flat tummies,
tight buns, and long lean thighs of a dancer.

Pilates For Dummies lets you get on board with the
Pilates method , without the high cost of private instruction.
Packed with step-by-step exercises, photos, and illustrations, it
helps you develop your own Pilates fitness program to do at home or
in the gym. Top Pilates trainer Ellie Herman shows you how to use
eight basic Pi lates principles to get the most out of your
mat-based routines and:

Look and feel better than ever

Get stronger, more flexible, in control and less prone to
injury

Target and tone problem areas

Get movie star abs, buns, thighs and arms

Repair chronic stress and sports injuries

Calmly, clearly, and with quirky good humor, Ellie explores the
origins and basic philosophy of the Pilates method, and helps you
set realistic fitness goals and custom-tailor a program. She also
covers:

Basic, intermediate , and advanced mat exercises

Using Pilates exercise equipment and accessories

Targeting specific areas including the stomach, back, thighs,
and chest

Pilates for the pregnant and recently pregnant body

Using Pilates to heal injuries, reform posture

Ten simple ways to incorporate Pilates into your everyday
life

Combining Pilates with other forms of exercise, including yoga,
swimming, aerobics, and more

Why let the rich and famous have all the fun? Your complete,
friendly, step-by-step guide, Pilates For Dummies shows how
Pilates can offer a fitness program for the rest of us.

Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Whether it's to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the critical skills and relevant information necessary for success.